Dancing with Shadows ✔

A Cold Welcome

Dancing with Shadow

Chapter 19

Emma couldn't believe it. Her own family was sending her to that awful place—her grandparents' house. A place she had sworn never to return to. Her father knew how his parents were, and knew the chaos that would erupt if they found out about the baby. But did anyone care about her feelings? No. They only cared about what they thought was best for her, without even considering how she would suffer.

Her suitcases were already packed, sitting ominously by the front door. She knew she hadn't packed them; there was no way she'd willingly prepare to leave. Whoever had done it had made up their mind long before she even had a chance to resist. Now, all she could do was lock herself in her room and cry, huddled in the corner, trying to block out the reality of what was happening.

Outside her door, her father was losing patience. He banged on the door like a man possessed, his voice booming through the wood.

"Emma! Get out here now!" His fist pounded against the door, each thud sending a jolt through her already fragile nerves.

"If you don't come out, I'll break down this door to get you if I have to!" The threat made her sobs grow louder. She pulled her legs closer to her chest, burying her face in her knees, wishing she could disappear.

The banging intensified, louder and more frantic, and then, suddenly, it stopped. Emma hesitantly lifted her head, her heart pounding in her chest. She saw her father standing in the doorway, the door he had just broken down hanging limply from its hinges. His face was red with anger, his eyes wild. She let out a scream, the fear and despair overwhelming her.

She bolted for the bathroom, hoping to lock herself away, but she didn't make it far. Her father's hand shot out, gripping her arm tightly. His fingers dug into her skin as he yanked her back.

"Please! Please! Don't send me there!" she cried, her voice hoarse and broken. Tears streamed down her face, her vision blurred by the overwhelming flood of emotion. She struggled against him, but his grip was ironclad, unyielding.

"Dad, be careful! You're hurting her!" a voice called out, but it was distant, almost drowned out by her father's rage. She couldn't tell who it was, but it didn't matter. No one was helping her. No one was stopping him. Her father, consumed by his fury, dragged her down the stairs, her pleas falling on deaf ears.

Before she knew it, she was shoved into the backseat of the car. She scrambled for the door handle, desperate to escape, but it wouldn't budge. The child lock was on. Trapped. She pounded her fists against the window as her father got into the driver's seat, his face set in a grim, determined expression.

As the car started, her mother and brothers finally emerged from the house. Emma frantically rolled down the window, her hope reigniting.

"Mom! Help me!" she screamed, her voice raw. "Please don't let him take me away!" Her cries were met with a look of pity from her mother, but nothing more. She watched in disbelief as her mother turned and walked back into the house, leaving her there.

"You guys! You'll help me, right?" she cried out to her brothers, clinging to a sliver of hope. But their faces were solemn, their eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and resignation.

"Emma, this is for your own good. You're not well," one of them said, his voice heavy with guilt. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. They thought she was sick, that something was wrong with her. But she knew better. She knew the truth.

Her mouth fell open in shock as they nodded to their father, giving him the unspoken approval to go through with his plan. The car started moving, the engine humming ominously as the distance between her and the house grew.